Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has assured residents of Offa and Kwara State in general that the Nigeria Police Force will rid the state of criminal elements.
He gave the assurance in his address at the official commissioning of the multi-million naira Mobile Police Barrack in Offa, on Thursday.
The facility built by the Offa community was donated to the Nigeria Police Force.
He stressed that security is the responsibility of everyone, urging residents to be vigilant and provide the police with relevant information that could help burst crime.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police-in-charge of Mobile Police Force, Lawan Jimeta, he appreciated people of Offa for building the facility for the security agency, promising that the police will do the needful to make the town crime free.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed challenged the Nigerian Police to redouble efforts to rid Kwara state of criminal elements before the 2019 general elections.
He lamented that cultism, armed robbery, hooliganism, and all forms of criminality, have in recent time, become hallmark of the state.
The minister tasked the police boss to ensure that the state is once again, safe for all to live in.
“What we are doing today is sending strong message to the police and it is very apt considering what happened in Offa April 5th this year.
“We all remember the sadness; the massacre of 33 innocent lives by hoodlums. And what Offa people have done is to ensure that never again will this be repeated in the town.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the police in Kwara State, with what Offa people have done today in giving you the necessary support, is to rid not just Offa but the entire state of criminal elements, hoodlums, cultists, armed robbers and all undesirables.
“This is a call to duty for the police in the state to redouble their efforts in ensuring that the state is safe for all. It is unfortunate that the state in recent time, has become notorious for criminality.
“Kwara State in recent time has made headlines for wrong reasons. It is either because of armed robberies, killings or acts of cultism. This is why I believe that the police have a big responsibility to rid this community and the state of all criminals.
“Because without security, not only won’t there be peace, there will be no development. No investor will come into a community which is controlled by thugs, hoodlums and cultists and those who witnessed what happened a few days ago in Ilorin, the state capital, would agree with me that cultists, hoodlums, hooligans and brigands are still very much active in the state.
“We are asking you to do this for all times, because it is very unfortunate today that cultism, thuggery and all sorts of criminality have now become the hallmarks of Kwara. This is not the Kwara me and you dreamt of. I call on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that Kwara is once again safe for all of us to stay,” he further said.
Also speaking at the event, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi recalled that prior to April incident, the issue of security had been a great concern and challenge in his domain.
He said that the community gave out seven Hilux vehicles to various security agencies in the state when armed robbers struck in 2014.
“The 68 Mobile Police MPF squadron which comprises of 16 offices, 200 Capacity conference room, abode for Officers with boreholes Water and electricity we are commissioning today is sacrifice borne out of the sweat of our people. And we want to specially thank the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, for his approval and support to make it a reality.
“The timely approval given to the project by IG shows that you truly shared in our pain. As we hand over the base to you, we ask for the deployment of enough personnel to make it achieve its purpose”, he said.
…urges police constables to be patriotic, diligent
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has charged the newly recruited constables to be diligent, selfless and patriotic.
He also urged them to constantly refresh their newly acquired knowledge and skills by putting all they have learnt into practice on the field in order to uphold the highest level of discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their statutory duties.
Idris who was represented by the state Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama stated this during the Passing- Out- Parade of the constables held at the Police Training School, Ilorin.
The police boss urged the officers to respect the rule of law, fundamental human rights and exhibit loyalty to the nation.
“This Passing Out Parade comes at the right time as preparation for general elections will commence in few months to come.
“The training and subsequent Passing Out Parade of constables cut across categories of the Force to improve the present strength which stood at approximately 300,000 policemen.”
He further encouraged the officers to toe the line of honour and shun acts capable of tarnishing the image of the Force, stressing that there is no place for corruption, indolence as erring officers will receive commensurate punishments.
He congratulated the officers on the successful completion of their training which is borne out of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for effective service delivery through the Police Reform Programme.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the Police Training School, Magaji Kayode said the constables were trained for seven months.
While congratulating the officers, he said that the career in policing lays foundation for a long-life of discipline.
